BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will on Saturday make his first official visit to Serbia, one of the few European countries that have maintained friendly relations with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.The office of Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic announced the visit late Thursday. Zelenskyy’s office has not officially confirmed his trip to Belgrade.The visit comes as Vucic tries to balance Serbia’s traditional ties with Moscow against pressure to align its foreign policy with the European Union. Vucic has refused to join international sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, citing historic ties between the two Slavic nations. Serbia is in the process of joining the EU, but that has been stalled partly because of Belgrade’s policies toward Moscow. Serbia relies almost entirely on Russia for its energy supplies. Although Belgrade has refused to sanction Russia, it has provided aid to Ukraine and Vucic has recently stepped up contacts with Kyiv, in an apparent bid to boost his image in the West.
Russia last year accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine through NATO member states, describing the move as a “stab in the back.” Serbia also has promised to help rebuild Ukraine after the war.Ahead of the visit, Vucic said he and Zelenskyy will discuss cooperation in various fields and their countries’ paths toward EU membership. Vucic said Serbia does not intend to change its position on Russia sanctions.
